Freezing apparatus



March 26, 1929. L. SQPFOUTS l1,706,589

FREE Z ING APPARATUS A.

.Filed Jan. 21, 1928 3 shaw-sheet 1 "lllllll 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 L. s.PFOUTS FREEZING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 2l, 1928 vMarch A26, 1929.

' March 26, 1929.

I .h s. PFouTs FREEZINQ APPARATUS Filed dan'. '21, 1928 3 sheets-sheetattente `25 that the apparatus Patented Mar. 26 1929.

UNITE s LEROY S. PFOUTS, DECEASED,

TBATRIX, OF CANTON, OHIO,

` if? j 1,706,589

LATE F CANTON, OHIO, BY JOAN S. PFOUTS, ADMINIS- ASSIGNOR TO THE H. H.MILLER INDUSTRIES GOM.--

APANY, OF CANTON, OHIO, CORPORATION OF OHIO.

IBEEZING APPARATUS.

Applioationilled January 21, 1928. Serial lo. 248,543.

This invention relates to an apparatus. for freezing materials, such asice cream, ices, and the like.

In the freezing ofmaterials particularly cream and other milk products,it is desirable to beat and agitate the batch in a manner and underconditions which will uniformly and rapidly effect freezing thereof tothe desired temperature and yield and to then relatively 1o quickly andwithout dela in emptying or undue exposure store the rozen batch in iceand salt or in a refrigerated storing room for hardening. Y

One object of my invention is therefore to construct an improved freezerhaving a suitable valve so arranged and of a size that the entire frozenbatch 'can be relatively quickly discharged directly into a collectin orreceiving member or a storing can, so t at immediately upon thecompletion of the freezing operation, the frozen mass is dischar edbefore further agitating or freezing of e material can take place andwithout undue exposure of the' frozen batch, the result being may beoperated continuously and produce successive batches all having the samequality and` weight per unit volume.

Another object of the invention is to p rovide an improved freezinapparatus having a valve mechanism capa e of permit-ting a relativelysmall discharge or a relatively large discharge of the material beingtreated.

Another object of the invention 1s to construct a freezer having animproved valve means for permitting iii-a ready manner and without wastetesting of the material during the freezing operation.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in theart to which the invention relates from the following description takenin connection with the accom-` panying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is afront elevation of an apparatus for freezing materials embodying theinvention.

Fig. 2 is a view, partly in side elevation looking toward the left inFig. 1 and partly in section.

Fig. 3 is a section onA the line 3-3 of Figs. 4 and 5.

tion.

Fig. 4 isa fragmentary view, partly in sec- 6 is a section on the line6'6 of 3. Fig. 7 is a view substantially similar to Fig. 3, but showinga different embodiment of the invention. Fi 8 is a View similar to Fig.7 but showing t e testing valve open.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig.r8, but showinnr another embodiment ofthe invention.

ig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9, but showing the testingvalve open.

In the drawings, 1 indicates a base on which is mounted a support 2preferably of substantially semi-cylindrical shape tol partially enclosea suitable driving mechanism, indicated as an entirety at 3. 4 indicatesa motor mounted on a separate support 1 and operating through suitablegear reductions 5, 6, to drive a main shaft 3 of the driving mechanism3.

7 indicates as an entirety the freezing member disposed in verticalposition and having a bottom Wall or head 8. The bottom or head 8 isprovided with a flange 9 secured for example by cap screws 9 to theupper portion of the support 2. The upper end of the freezer member 7 isprovided with a ring, forming an opening which is closed by a removablehead 10; the ring being provided with a bracket 11 which is secured tothe upper end of 'a column or standard 12. The column 12 being rigidlysecured to the support 2, serves to brace the freezing member 7 thereon.The freezing member 7 comprises an inner cylinder 13 and means forsupplying a heat transfer medium in contact with its outer wall, suchmeans in the present illustrated embodiment comprising a circuitouspassage 14 for brine formed by a corrugated sheet metal jacket 14. lThejacket 14imay be insulated by suitable material 15 and the latterenclosed in a cylinder 16. The wall 13 and jacket 14 are connected attheir ends to the lhead 8 and ring in a suitable manner to insureliquid-tight joints and the engaging surfaces between the ring ground toinsure a liquid-tight fit. The brine is supplied to and conducted awayfrom the and head 10 arepassages 14 by pipes 17, controlled by a valve18. The material to be frozen may be introduced into the cylinder 13 inany desired manner, but preferably by a pipe 19 leading through the sidewall of the freezer member 7 at any desired point between the head 8`and ring, and the valve 20 for controlling such material supply and thedevices for maintaining the openingthrough the pi e 19 clear may bemounted in the pipe'19; t e construction and arrangement of the inletpipe 19 and the valve and devices connected thereto being preferablysimilar to like arts shown in Letters Patent No. 1,191,222, ated July18, 1916. A

21 indicates as an entirety the combined 'agitating, beating andscraping mechanism within -the cylinder 13, which may comprise one ormoi'e rotatablel members dependin upon the nature or character of themateria being frozen. In the illustrated form of construction twomembers are provided, an outer member 22, which preferably includes oneor ,more sera ers 22, and an inner member 23, said mem ers beingconnected (preferably removably) with shafts 24, 25, respectivelyextending through an opening 26 formed axially in the head 8. As shown,the shafts 24, 25, are connected to the gears 3, 3c, of the drivingmechanism 3, by means that operate to prevent leakage of liquid into thedriving mechanism 3 or the casing therefor, such means forming thesubject-mattei' of a copending application Ser. No. 212,977, for whichreason no claim is made herein to such subject-matter. The gears 3", 3,mesh with and are driven in opposite directions by a main gear 3dsecured to the shaft 3a.

27 indicates a relatively large opening formed in the head 8 and servingas the discharge opening for the batch of frozen material. The openingis controlled by a valve 28, movably mounted with respect to the head 8.The opening 27 is of a size to permit the entire batch (exceptingportions that may adhere to the walls and parts) to freely iow throughit in a short period of time upon the operation of the valve 28 toitsopen position, the result being that the continued operation of themechanism 21 during the discharge of the lmaterial (as is the customarypractice) and the low temperature within the cylinder 13 and effect ofthe refrigerant around it, will not, to any considerable degree, changeor affect the condition or temperature of the last portion of the batchto flow through opening with respect to the first portion flowingtherethrough when emptying or discharge takes place. It will thereforebe seen that the entire frozen mass or batch will have a substantiallyuniform temperature and swell. The discharged batch may flow into astoring can or into a trough, as shown in the aforesaid co-pendingapplication. To form the opening 27, the major portion of the metal ofthe head 8, forward of a diametrical line extending from side to side ofthe head, is cut away.

The valve 28 preferably comprises a plate and may be movably supportedon the lower face of the head 8, for which purpose the latter isprovidedwith guides 29 arranged to c .Y W 1,706,589

permit the valve 28 to slide forward to the ported on the heads ofadjustable plugs 31 threaded in openings 32 formed in the guides 29, asshown in Fig. 6.

33 indicates a valve for permitting the discharge of a relatively smallquantit of material, for example, into a small container. The yalve 33may be operated during the freezing 'operation, whereby the operativecan, at will, permit the dischar e of a small quantity into a testingcan to dtermine the condition of the batch and its swell, so that thedischarge of the entire batch of material may be effected at the propertime. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive I have shownthe valve 33 as mounted on the valve plate 28, the latter being formedwith a relatively small opening 33u and carrying a movable valve element33bv arranged to open and close the valve or discharge opening 33. Thevalve element 33b may be slidably mounted on the valve plate 28 as shownin a copending application Ser. No. 208,235, but by reference it ismounted on a pivot 34 carried y the valve 28 (see Fig. 5) and providedwith a suitable handle 35. 36 indicates a cam engagin a portion of thehandle 35 and arrange to press or squeeze the valve element 33 close aainst the wall or surface of the valve 28 w en moved to closed position.As clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the opening be yieldingly pressedy33a in the plate 28 is arranged so that when the latter is inclosedposition the opening is in registry with the main discharge opening27,and when the plate 28 is moved to open position, the opening 33aoccupies a position below that portion of the head 8 forward of theopening 27 and is shut oif thereby. Asfa result pf this arrangement, butone opening is required in the head 8 for both valves; the testing valveis inoperative when the main valve is open and discharge or emptying ofthe cylinder can only take place through a single valve opening at atime.

The valve 28 may be operated by one or more toggles 37 connected to a.rock shaft 38 suitably mounted below the head 8. The shaft 38 carries agear 39 in mesh with a gear 40. The gear 40 is fixed to a shaft 41 whichcarries a lever or handle 42.

43 indicates a suitable measuring receptacle having a'discliarge pipe43a leading to the casing of the valve 20. 44 indicates a supply pipeleading to the receptacle 43. The ipes 43, 44, are connected to eachother so t at al single valve 45 may control the flow alternatelythrough them. By preference the valve 45 is connected by a linkage46with the valve 20 so that when the valve 45 is operated to permitdischarge of the material from iso the receptacle 43 the valve 20 willbe o ned and whenrldischarge is cut oil the va ve 204 will be closed.

As shown, the testing valve is disposed on y the valvefplate 28. Thisconstruction and form of construction, thehead .8 is formed v 28 willcontrol the opening of the to effect a disc arge throigh with a separateopening 47, preferably in close roximity to the main valve opening 27and) so arranged that a portion of the valve opening 47 in its movementin one direction, or example, toward its open position. VFor thispurpose, the valve 28 has an extended portion 28 and by preference suchportion has an 4 opening 28'L which is adapted to register with the oning 47 when moved to a predeterniine position. Such registry may beindif cated for the guidance of the operative to facilitate the o rationof the valve plate 28 or through the opening by graduations or othersuitablel markings on the .bearing sleeve 48 for the shaft 41, wherebythe movenient of the handle 42 to'positions relative to such marks willindicate the positions of vthe valve plate 28. l

10 I have shown another ein- In Figs. 9 and bodiment of the invention,wherein the construction -of valve mechanism is still furthersimplified. In this form of valve mechanism, the valve plate 28x isshaped to cooperate with a portion of the side wall forming the opening27, so that when the valve plate is moved to a predetermined iton arelatively small amount of material may be discharged, for'example, fortesting purposes, as a ready set forth, without opening the valveopening 27. In this embodiment of my invention, the inner edge of thevalve plate 28x is cut away, as shown at 28"', preferably midway betweenits ends, soA that when the plate is moved outwardly, to the positionshown in Fig. 1 0, the cut away co-operates with the adjacent wall ofthe opening 27 to form a discharge port for the purposes already setforth. When the valve 28x is moved inwardly, the opening 27 iscompletely closed as shown in Fig. 9; when moved outwardly to full openposition, the opening 27 is completely uncovered to permit emptying ofthe entire frozen mass as already set forth.

The construction of freezer apparatus hereinv disclosed is adapted forfreezing a relatively large-batch or quantity of matethe opening t7`rials at each operation, for example, batches of 100 or 200 tuarts. Dueto the fact that the freezing cy inder is disposed in upright positionand a relatively large valve is disposed in its bottom or lower head, itwill be seen thatwlien the valve element is opened, the entire frozenmass, which is in a semiliquid condition, is free to drop or gravitatetherethrou h, sothat all portions of the mass will flow t rough thevalve opening before any substantial change in the condition of the lastportion can take place even though the agitatin -mechanism is keptrunning as is the usua ractice. As a result each batch will be uniformlfrozen, and conditioned for storing. This will enable'all batches to beof the same character.`

In the forms of construction shown, the

valve mechanisms comprise a relatively large valve opening to insurefast emptying of the vfrozen mass and arelatively small openin topermit'the discharge at will of suicient materiall fortesting purposes.This arrangement sim lilies the work of the operative and enables him tomake as many tests as desired without danger of Ywasting the material ors lashing it on the floor and surrounding tion and widely differingembodiments. and applications o the invention will suggest themselveswithout departing from the s virit land scope thereof. The disclosuresan the o yects. o those skilled in the art to which this inventionrelates many changes in constructively-large valve in said lower head atone side of said shaft for permitting quick empt ing of the frozen masssubstantially as a therethrough. v

2. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a sup ort, afreezing member mounted thereon and) comprisi a cylinder disposedvertically andA having eads at its u'pper and lower ends, an agitatingdevice within said cylinder and means for causing a heat transfer mediumto contact with the wall of said c linder, driving means having a shaftextending centrally through the lower head, the major portion of saidlower head forward of a diametrical line extending from side to side ofsaid cylinder being cut away to form a relatively large dischargeopening to a heat transfer medium to contact with the wall of saidcylinder, and a plurality of valves of different capacities in saidlower head at one side of said shaft, one of said valves permittingdischarge of a relatively small amount of material and the other valvepermitting quick emptying of said c linder.

4. In apparatus of the class descri ed, the combination of a support, afreezing member mounted thereon and comprising a cylinder disposedvertically and closed at its upper end, a head for closing the lower endof said cylinder, an agitating device within said cylinder, drivingmeans havingv a shaft extending centrally throu h said lower head forrotating said device, and valve mechanism on said head for independentlycontrolling a plulrality of discharge openings of dlierent capacities,one of the openings permitting discharge of material for testing thereofand the other opening permitting quick emptying of said cylinder.

5. In apparatus of the class described, the

combination of a support, a freezing member mounted thereon andcomprising a vertically disposed cylinder closed at its upper end andhaving a ead at its lower end, a discharge valve comprising an openingformed in said lower head and a member movable to control said opening,and a separate discharge valve on said movable member.

6. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a support, afreezing member mounted thereon and comprising a vertically disposedcylinder closed at its upper end and having a head at its lower end, anagitating device within. said cylinder, driving means having a shaftextending centrally through said lower head for driving said device, avalve arranged to permit the discharge of the frozen material toquickly' empty said cylinder, said valve comprising a relatively largeopening formed in said lower head to permit Ithe discharge of the frozenmass substantially as a body and a member movable to control saidopening, and a separate valve in the lower portionof said freezingmember to permit the dischar e therefrom of relatively small quantitiesomaterial.

7. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a support, afreezing member mounted thereon and comprisin -a vertically dis osedcylinder having a heag at its lower en a main valve comprising arelatively large opening formed 1n said lower head permit-ting quickemptying of the frozen mass substantially as a' bod therethrough and avalve element for contro ling said opening, said valve element providedwith a separate valve comprising a movable valve element on the firstmentioned element and an opening formed in said first mentioned elementarranged to -register with the opening for said main valve when thelatter is closed.

8. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a support, afreezing member mounted thereon and comprisin a vertically dis sedcylinder having a hea at its lower en and a lurality of discharge valveson said head of) that one thereof is made in-operative when the othervalve is o rated, one of said valves permitting the quick emptying ofthe contents of said cylinder.

9. In apparatuspof` the class described, the combinatlon of a support, afreezing member mounted thereon andcomprisin a vertically dis osedcylinder having a hea at its lower en said head being formed with a maindischarge opening for permitting quick emptyin of said cylinder, a valvelate slidable re ative to the lower surface o said head to control saidopening, and a valvel carried by said plate, the last mentioned valvecomprising an opening formed in said plate and an 'zeI differentcapacities so arranged element controlling said opening,'said open/V100ing being in reglstry with the main dischargle opening when the valveplate is in close position ut movabletoan in-operative position belowthe wall of said: head when said valve plate is operated.

10. In apparatus of the .class described, the combination of a support,a freezing member mounted thereon and comprising a closed cylinder,agitating means within said cylinder, and a compound valve mechanism inthe lower portion of said freezing member and comprising a relativelylarge opening formed in said c linder, a valve element for controllingthe dlscharge through said opening, a relatively small opening formed insaid valve element arranged to register with the first mentioned openingwhen the valve element therefor is closed and a separate valve elementon the first mentioned valve element for controlling the dischargethrough said relatively small opening.

In testimony whereof, have lhereunto signed my name.

JOAN S.PFOUTS,

Pfouts, Deceased.

'Azimz'm'strat of the Estate of Leroy S.

